Martin manufactured only 33 VW-plectrum banjos. I got an old Vega banjo from my father. thanks for the very informative web site Your F-VIP (Folk-Very Important Player) banjo #1456 was manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1975 in a lot of 3 such instruments per Shop Order 2274. Ed Britt, Jim Bollman, or Bob Smakula would be the most likely people to be able to give you the most exact identification of the model possible. JC Fairbanks & Vega banjos, Dating & Identifying - Mugwumps 403.80. The only serial number is 1120. After its Martin Guitar era, the Vega brand name ownership was sold overseas, and the banjo line fellinto obscurity. The peg head engraving and paint motif matched the resonator. 1921 Vega Style L Whyte Laydie Mandolin Banjo. Retail price was $1300.00 ; I paid $900.00 . In addition to the unusual R-D-136 serial number, the C.F. Vega Banjo Identification - azgardcn To generally confirm that your banjo is a Nazareth built instrument, check for a C.F. Ending Thursday at 9:33PM GMT 2d 23h. C.F. Good luck with your vintage Seeger long neck and photos of this prize would be most welcome for posting here if you are so inclined. A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Regent" 5-string banjo, S/N 25121, Circa 1909 A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 25516, Circa 1909 . Plectrum means a 4-string model with 22 frets, which is longer scale (27) than the 19 fret 4-string tenor (23). I have a Martin Vega Banjo, #324. sir- need some help. He is credited with being one of the first banjo-builders to install side brackets with hooks to adjust the tension of the head. The Wonder was an entry level resonator instrument that featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, 3 piece maple neck, blackwood fretboard, pearl dots, nickel-pate parts and a shaded mahogany finish. VIP is printed on the truss rod cover. Just found you today . rocket and teresa administrative leave; Barry, I have purchased a Martin Vega V-45 described as 1971 production and a serial number of #327. Gold and ivory hard wear with a butterfly mop inlay on the back of the body. I admire the amount of effort youve put into helping the community of banjo enthusiasts I ve got serial # 129 , a 22 fret ,27 scale plectrum in for a set up..any info.about date of manufacture,potential value, and other pertinent details would be appreciatedthanks.. BRC Banjo Replies:July 14, 2016 at 1:13 pm, Darryl- Thank you for your kind comments about the BRC website. The other 9 were likely shipped to Canada or Japan for assembly after 1977. This 5-stringer was manufactured circa 1845 in Baltimore, MD, by luthier William Boucher, Jr.. 1930 Vega Tenor Banjo - Pure Banjo Just came across your site, I was wondering if you would be able to help identify what model Martin Vega banjo that I have, I believe it is from the 70s. Vega Martin models (1970-1979) are less of a collector`s item and fetch about half that price range. Mark- Thank you for the very helpful series of photos and your kind comments about the website. The serial number is stamped in the wooden rim below the Martin decal. Barry. I am wondering what you can tell me about a Vega long neck banjo with Martin stamp on the back of the headstock and inside, serial number 82? Wow! If you need photos I can take a few and send them to you on a subsequent time. Many thanks for your efforts. About 20 years ago I had it re-fretted , re-finished , and the gold re-plated . After a loooong wait I finally got it in 1971 . Buckbee(1861-1897) banjos can frequently be identified by their Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. 5. On the back side of your device. In the final VM 1976 catalogue, the F-VIP is displayed in full advertising detail. VEGA Vintage Banjos for sale | eBay He was told that it was made by Martin, but I do not find any Martin labels. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. 1833 decal is absent from the inner rim. This fascinating collection of vintage stringed instruments chronicles luthier C.F. C.F. A total of 101 PS-5 instruments were manufactured in Pennsylvania. Sold out. My estimate would in the neighborhood of $1.5K depending on condition. Per my files, the Pete Seeger long neck first appears in a Vega flyer in 1961 for $309. Any idea where I might find one? The Wonder model had a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, geared tuners, a 3 piece maple neck, a blackwood fretboard, pearl dots, a resonator with 4 section metal tone flanges, nickel-plated parts, a plastic head, an armrest and shaded mahogany finish. Martin did not publish suggested retail prices after 1971, but I would estimate the V-76 sold for around $7-800 with case. Vega Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers - evertx Just bought a martin-vega banjo from an old man in North Carolina. Your Vega Martin instrument SN 231 is a Wonder model VW-P (plectrum ) 4 stringer made in Nazareth in late 1972 per Shop Order #2121 just after production was transferred from Boston to the re-tooled Pennsylvania factory. The information looks just finethere were yet a number of the Mxxxxxx series banjos still made in the Needham Heights factory outside Boston. You banjo parts were probably shipped in 1977 to Japan for assembly where all serial number assignments were in disarray. Im just getting back into my love of music. William- Thanks for your post. Although the Martin Company did not manufacture Vega banjos till a century later, a solitary banjo from the mid 19th century is appended to the exhibit to display parallel innovation in the instrument because of its increasing popularity during that era. The Vega serial number files still available do not specify the specific models of banjo manufactured in Massachusetts. The shoes (instead of Vox next nut shoes) and the round hook and nutassemblies are probably from stock, as I have some still lying around athome that I bought from Martin back then to replace on a 1929 Vegaphone(which are slightly different). The rhinestones on the flanges, tension bolts, and peghead differ from Peabodys prototype and the later Martin production Vox V models. I orderedit in 1970 through a music store in Norwich , Ct run by Cliff Tidd . Be safe, be well. Im trying to decide wether to keep it as a memento, keep it and take some lessons, or possibly sell it because its a shame to have it sit in storage. It did not have a tone ring or simply a steel ring like the Wonder, to keep the cost down. Have a bunch of pics I can forward, any particular area to focus on that would help? I knew nothing about it until I found this site. Where is the serial number on a Vega banjo? - chroniclesdengen.com Martin historian Mike Longworth. Any help with identifying it (I cant find a serial number anywhere) or locating buyers would be so gratefully welcomed! Deering purchased the Vega franchise in1989 restoring the line to greatness. I bought it in Stockholm, Sweden as a student, so it was not so expensive, as i remembered. Fender Standard Banjo Hardshell Case Black ,, kemenpppa.go.id 4kjzing@8x47evey1 So there are gaps at the high end of each thousand series -- since Fairbanks Your mellowed 1963 SR-5 sold for $400 in the 1963 Vega catalogue, and it was advertised to feature a brilliant tone back then. . Martin stamp. It is in pristine condition and is clearly a very high quality instrument. It is a Vega Martin model VW-5 called a Vega Wonder and sometimes referred to as the Wonder-5. I have original case. The original prototype was designed and built by the Vega Company in 1969, for the legendary King of the Banjo Eddie Peabody to commemorate his 50th year in show business. . Martin also made 1976 model D-76 guitars to partner the banjo. Dick- Thank you for being a frequent reader of the BRC website. Bob. set of identifying characteristics can be found at http://www.mugwumps.com. The serial number is found on a white tag on the inside of the resonator or if you have an openback banjo, it is a smaller white tag on the inside of the rim. I do not know anything about banjos but the label inside the rim says VEGA of Boston. Could you tell me where it was built and what its value is today ? It was a student model that Eddie convinced long time friend and Vega owner/president to make positioned as a lower cost alternative to the Vox I/Professional IIit was an upgrade over the Little Wonder/Ranger banjos. Barry. Jack. I also did replace all of the cheapish plastic knobs with ivoroid ones of much better quality. Vega Banjos - The Mandolin Pages Also, I can send pictures, if this would help, or just be fun! It is a top-of-the-line banjo that was paired with the reissued D-45 Martin guitar as a marketing strategy. Please take detailed photos of your banjo inside and outside. vega banjo identification Deering now owns the Vega brand, and it is rumored that they may revive the deep resonator design. The BRC Archives contain the serial numbers of these unique Vega-Martin banjos. Both the VW-5 and FW-5 appear in the 1961 Vega ((155 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA) catalogue but featuring a 5 ply rim in the early design. Home; Meet Darlene; ISI Mission; What is Coaching? It`s a sweet long neck, and I wish I had one. It retailed for $345 in the 1971 Vega Martin price list. Vega Pete Seeger 5-string Folk Banjo - 1958-1970 - The Canada Site Roger- Thanks for your challenging follow-up query. Jim, Jim -Thanks for your query. The mahogany neck had an ebony fingerboard with distinctive inlays including the peg head. The melody banjo was the equivalent of a 4 string mandolin banjo. What is it worth today, and what did it sell for when new? what I know about banjos right now I learned from you!! Prices subject to change without notice. Martin upgraded the maple rim to 10 ply after purchasing the Vega/Boston franchise in May of 1970. The finish was shaded mahogany, and the metal rim parts were nickel plated. I play it weekly (weakly) on Monday nights at restaurant in Anaheim, California and love its sound. It is veryinteresting that it has the non-ebonized finish on the peghead cap, whichcoincided with the move production to Nazareth (adopting stained rosewood asthey used on the guitars). Barry, Eddie- Thanks for your query and kind comments about the website. These days, the Wonder would sell for $700-$1000 depending on condition. Search online for Earl Scruggs Vega Banjo Images, and you will see a photo of him with his endorsed Vega instrument bearing the signature square inlays on the neck that offered its distinctive stage appearance. Your Vega Martin VIP-5 with SN 845 was made in Nazareth, PA, in 1974 as one of four manufactured per Shop Order #2193, and it sold for $556 without case in the 1971 price list (after which VM did not publish recommended retail prices). Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Vega stamp to yellow stick-on labels between 99369 and 99686. switchover is between #23721 and #23800. Many thanks to you and your friend Ron for putting me straight. My estimate is that your VV IV-T can fetch about $1000-4500 these days depending on the online vendor or estate auction. aluminum variety, one slim one large, with the larger one closer to the head. Im sure theres a story behind this banjo and why it was made. It was recommended by Bob Smakula that I send some photos to you and that you might have more information. The Pro model initially featured a Tube-a-phone tone chamber rim which evolved into a tone ring with exclusively designed audio apertures machined into a dogbone/barbell configuration. During this transitional period, Boston parts were shipped to Nazareth for assembly, and Martin pre-fixed the traditional six digit Vega serial number with the letter `M`. Aside a changed bridge it remained un-modified and rarely played until about two years ago, as by the time I had bought it, I more and more began concentrating on the guitar. The Seeger endorsed 5-stringer had the famous Vega Tube-a phone tone ring, a three piece ebony fingerboard, pearl dots, a neck-tension rod, a 10 ply maple rim, and a brass bracket band and notched tension hoop. 7. It looks like the banjo is in ok/decent condition. Vega enthusiasts Help with this mystery - Discussion Forums - Banjo Hangout Your instrument SN 999 was one of five VIP-5 (Very Important Player) banjos was made in Nazareth, PA, in mid 1974 per Shop Order # 2212. VINTAGE VEGA TENOR BANJO, 1930, RESONATOR, 19 FRET, CLEAN. It has the famous Vega `Tu-Ba-Phone` tone ring and notched tension hoop both made of bell brass, an ebony fingerboard, and a 10 ply maple rim. Vega Banjos by Deering | Huge Selection | Lowest Prices Guaranteed From the BRC, Barry, Only a handful of Martin/Vega banjos made it down to Australia. The banjo listed for $556 in the 1971 price list without case. (#26) Dr. Ron about " Vega Vox V: The Vega Martin Apogee of 4 String Banjos", A Lone (Pre Vega Martin ) Banjo at the Art Museum, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14ES67V1VHbMR-GfbQpvWWGD1RUJrtyTv?usp=sharing. Thanks for your post and happy pickin`, Barry. Recently purchased a Vega Vox iv plectrum banjo. Vega Banjos for Sale, New and Used - banjobarn.com Reverb Homepage Contact Support 539673d7daac40d5a6fd870a259b9813 Shop Gear Categories Brands Shops Deals and Steals Price Drops 0% Financing New and Popular Handpicked Collections Sell on Reverb Informacje o Martin V730 StringsVega struny banjo 5str 10-23,10 - 11109713090 w archiwum Allegro. An example of one of these 4-stringers from the 1920`s is still in the C.F. Idoubt it matches the rim, unless they changed from a plectrum to tenor atlast minute. Bill- Thanks for your query. $5000 would be a reasonable number if in good conditionit could have brought $7500 a few years ago. Vega Martin banjo SN 1795 was one of three special order V-45 5-string banjos manufactured in Nazareth, PA, in 1977 per Shop Order 2335. In the Martin log book, the last six digit (Vega) serial number was 130392 in 1972 after which began the Martin digits. Deering (California) now owns the Vega brand name and produces a `Little Wonder` and `Old Tyme Wonder` 5-stringer not unlike your instrument. The Vega name on the head is not with the usual letters and there is no star there either. Martin purchased the Vega brand in May in 1970 and just before the factory was transferred to Pennsylvania.